7 best songs of Saira Banu

She was known as the Venus of the East and wowed us with her elfin looks not to mention her acting during her heyday. Presenting a list of Saira Banu’s evergreen songs on the occasion of her birthday.Ehsaan tera hoga mujhparFilm: Junglee (1961)Music: Shankar-JaikishanSinger: Lata Mangeshkar

Saira Banu clad in all white and appearing in Shammi Kapoor’s dream was a vision to behold. It’s the song which makes him realise the depth of not only her feelings towards him but his own deep-rooted love for her. Her expressions were spot on and one couldn’t tell it was her debut film, that too opposite an established star.Main kamsin hoon nadan hoonFilm: Ayee Milan Ki Bela (1964)Music: Shankar-JaikishanSinger: Lata Mangeshkar

When the hero (Rajendra Kumar) sees her at first, he sings, Tum kamsin ho, nadan ho, najukh ho, bholi ho and goes on to say that he’s afraid of loving her. The present song is the heroine’s reply that he should love her for those very reasons. Shot among verdant hills and vales it remains an endearing song.Ruk ja aye hawaFilm: Shagird (1967)Music: Laxmikant-PyarelalSinger: Lata Mangeshkar

It’s the introductory song of the heroine and the hero (Joy Mukerji), much like the audience, remains mesmerised by her beauty. You can’t but help falling in love with her carefree charm every time you watch this song.Bhai batturFilm: Padosan (1968)Music: RD BurmanSinger: Lata Mangeshkar

There’s nothing more tantalising than a bathing song in our films. The song teased you but never crossed the limits of decency. It left plenty to the imagination while maintain a certain innocence about the heroine.Unse mili nazarFilm: Jhuk Gaya Aasman (1968)Music: Shankar-JaikishanSinger: Lata Mangeshkar

Unse mili nazar had the heroine recounting the effect the hero had on her while undressing and then taking a shower. Here too, the combination of naiveté and oomph had the viewer’s riveted to their seats.O neele parbaton ki dhaaraFilm: Aadmi Aur Insaan (1969)Music: RaviSingers: Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor

The sparkling chemistry between Saira Banu and Dharmendra is very much evident in this song shot with mesmerising waterfalls as the backdrop. They never make such effortlessly romantic songs ever now.Twinkle twinkleFilm: Purab Aur Paschim (1970)Music: Kalyanji-AnandjiSingers: Asha Bhosle, Mahendra Kapoor

This hatke song was picturised on Saira Banu and Manoj Kumar imagining themselves as giant puppets in a puppet show. It poked fun at Indian women taking up western norms in a light-hearted way but Saira looked ever so sexy in a short red dress.